Former major league pitcher and current MLB Network analyst Dan Plesac was teammates with Jim Thome with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2003. In their brief time together, Thome made quite an impact on the lefthander. Says Plesac:

"He is the most wholesome, genuine guy that I ever played with. He's never let any of the fame or good fortune that's come his way go to his head. He's the most level-headed, down-to-earth, considerate, polite, classy guy. He's without question in the top five players that I ever played with."

"I don't think anybody knew that he'd get to 600 home runs. There are so many factors: there's injury factors, there's age that goes into it. Would he accept the reduced role, not playing everyday, DHing, being a lefthander off the bench? I don't think 10 years ago anybody could've said that Jim Thome was going to be a good guy coming off the bench or playing three days a week or a full-time DH. He was a third baseman when he came over from the Indians, switched to first base, was an everyday player, and he's made himself a good DH."

"He's made everything that he's ever done in baseball. He's not the most gifted guy, but he works hard and he takes a lot of pride in what he does."